no THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



whose duty it is to keep constant watch, and acquaint the rest of 

 the herd with the first signs of approaching danger. When one of 

 these sentinels detects a foe he utters a pecuhar warning whistle. 

 This is at once understood by his companions, and in a very few 

 moments not a chamois is to be seen. 



But the chamois has another enemy from which it cannot 

 escape so easily as from man. This is the eagle, whose broad 

 wings will carry it into fastnesses where no human hunter can 

 penetrate. It seldom attacks an adult chamois, but will follow a 

 herd about from place to place, and watch its opportunity to carry 

 off one of the kids. 



Like many other animals, the coat of that of this graceful little 

 antelope varies in colour at different seasons of the year. Thus, 

 in the summer the colour of the body is brownish yellow, with a 

 darker stripe running along the back. In winter this hue is re- 

 placed by a dark blackish brown. The head is pale yellow, 

 becoming darker upon the nose and between the eyes. The skin 

 of the chamois is greatly valued, as it can be converted into a very 

 strong and yet soft and pliable leather. Hence the name of 

 "chamois-leather", which is now given, however, to various kinds 

 of wash-leather made from the skins of other animals. 



THE GIRAFFE 



The Giraffe is possibly the sole survivor of what was once a 

 large family. Skeletons of various kinds of giraffes that are 

 unknown nowadays are dug up from time to time, showing that 

 the family was in past ages larger and more important than at 

 the present day. 



Owing chiefly to the remarkable length of its neck, the giraffe 

 is by far the tallest animal known to inhabit the earth. It towers, 

 indeed, even above the elephant, for a female giraffe frequently 

 attains to a height of thirteen or fourteen feet, while a male sixteen 

 feet high is by no means uncommon. 



It is interesting to find that, notwithstanding its extraordinary 

 length, the neck of the giraffe is formed upon just the same 

 principles as that of other mammals. In all the other animals 



